Aviation

US Super Hornet jet blown off warship deck

An F/A-18 Super Hornet was blown off the flight deck of the USS Harry S. Truman near Norfolk, according to the Navy.

The accident happened on Friday in the Mediterranean Sea, as the carrier was doing a replenishment-at-sea, or ship-to-ship refueling. The incident occurred during extremely heavy rain, according to Navy officials.

The ship’s crew is all safe and well, however one sailor was hurt. The sailor’s injuries were deemed “minor,” and he is expected to fully recover.

The Navy is considering whether to rescue the Super Hornet from the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea, according to a Navy spokesman, despite the fact that it plainly possesses the capability.

After crashing into the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in January then sliding off and sinking into the South China Sea, the Navy recovered an F-35C Lightning II fighter from 12,000 feet of water in March. On average, the Mediterranean Sea is 4,900 feet deep.

The occurrence on Friday did not appear to cause any injuries, but the Navy did say one sailor was hurt while “doing operations under the unexpectedly intense rain.” They are in stable condition and are expected to fully recover.

The carrier, according to officials, is still mission capable. The matter is still being investigated.

Aviation

Airbus Enhances A350 Cabin with 10-Abreast Seating

Airbus has announced a new partnership with Jiatai Aircraft Equipment, a Chinese aircraft seating manufacturer, to supply upgraded economy-class seats for the A350 widebody series.

This collaboration, unveiled at the 2024 Airshow China, focuses on developing a newly designed economy seat tailored for the A350‘s New Production Standard (NPS) cabin.

One of the key features of the NPS cabin is the ability to accommodate 17-inch wide economy seats, compared to the previous 16.5-inch wide seats that airlines were limited to in the A350’s earlier configurations.

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This change is made possible by the expanded space in the NPS cabin, which is 35 inches longer and 4 inches wider than the previous version. This extra space is achieved by slightly moving the cockpit wall forward and shifting the rear pressure bulkhead back by one frame.

The wider cabin allows airlines to add up to 30 extra economy seats without compromising comfort. For airlines opting for a 3-4-3 seating layout, the 17-inch wide seats are an excellent choice for a more comfortable passenger experience. However, some airlines, such as Iberia, may choose to retain a 9-abreast layout with wider seats for added comfort.

The NPS cabin also offers enhanced flexibility for airline operators. One major advantage is the ability to easily switch between a 9-abreast and 10-abreast seating configuration without requiring significant downtime for aircraft reconfiguration. Airlines can use the same seat rails, tracks, and IFE interfaces, making the transition smoother and quicker.

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In addition, the design of the floor attachments and air-conditioning systems has been optimized for 10-abreast seating, meaning airlines can upgrade their cabins without needing to make substantial modifications to the aircraft’s structure.

Though it’s still unclear when Jiatai’s economy-class seats will be officially added to the A350’s Buyer Furnished Equipment (BFE) catalogue, the collaboration marks a significant step toward enhancing the A350’s cabin offerings.

With this partnership, Airbus is providing more seating options for airlines, ensuring that they can meet diverse customer needs while improving overall operational efficiency.